River Wensum
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A tree-lined section of the River Wensum as it flows through the city of Norwich, seen in July 2005. |
The
River Wensum is a
river in
Norfolk, England and a
tributary of the
River Yare. The source of the Wensum lies between the villages of
Colkirk and
Whissonsett in Norfolk. The river flows westward initially through the village of Raynham passing close to
Raynham Hall, home of the
Marquis Townshend. The river then turns and follows a path to the north flowing through a number of small villages. An
18th century water mill (now a hotel and restaurant) bridges the river at
Sculthorpe. The river then turns and flows to the east through the market town of
Fakenham where it is bridged by another c18 water mill that was in use until
1979. The river then flows in a south easterly direction passing through the Pensthorpe Nature reserve and the village of
Great Ryburgh.
The river then flows onwards through the villages
Great Witchingham, Lenwade and
Taverham before entering the City of
Norwich. The river then merges with the river Yare to the south of the city before flowing eastward through Breydon Water to the
North Sea at
Great Yarmouth.
The river is navigable from the centre of Norwich to its confluence with the River Yare.
